SHOT Show 2022 introduced me to the Meta Tactical’s Apex conversion kits. I’m a fan of the out-there and the unique, so these kits most certainly appealed to me. Meta Tactical was kind enough to send me an Apex kit to test and review.
Let’s get this out of the way first: the Meta Tactical Apex is not a gun, but a conversion kit. It takes your GLOCK firearm and converts it to a bullpup carbine with a 16-inch barrel. It does so very easily and quickly.
These American-made Meta Tactical kits are available for GLOCKs, as well as the PSA Dagger series and Polymer 80 non-GLOCKs. They also produce the kit for the Smith & Wesson M&P series. There are plans to extend the Apex to cover guns from Canik, SIG, and Springfield as well. Mine is for GLOCK firearms, and generations three through five are supported by the Apex kit. Numerous color options are available, including black, gray, OD Green, tan, and a special 2nd Amendment model.
The Big Why
A big question you might be asking is, why? Well, that’s up to you. I like bullpups, and PCCs, so this was a no-brainer for me. I’m partial to the odd and offbeat as well, and this struck all of those chords. After using the kit, I can also tell you it works and works surprisingly well. I’ve used chassis kits from MechTech, Roni, KPOS, and more, and this is by far my favorite.
That was my original reason. However, with all the troubles regarding braces at the moment, the Apex is also a solid choice for a short gun in the 9mm caliber. The barrel might be 16 inches, but the gun itself is uber-short.
Installing your GLOCK In The Apex
During the entire installation process, make sure you use a completely clear and unloaded firearm. Before your gun walks through the Stargate portal that is the Apex chassis, you have to install the 16-inch barrel.
The barrel is included with the kit and features a 1/2×28 threaded portion for attaching muzzle devices. The included device is a flash suppressor. One of the downsides to the Apex is the fact you can’t use all manner of muzzle devices. The short recoil principle is sensitive to weight, so some devices used on PCCs can’t be used on the Apex…including, unfortunately, suppressors.
After the barrel is installed, you press a small button on the bottom of the chassis. This allows you to lever the rear end upward. From here, you press out a captured ‘firing’ pin and slide the GLOCK in place. You then slide the ‘firing’ pin over the trigger. This pin is pressed by the trigger linkage and depresses the trigger of your GLOCK pistol. You then close the hinged rear portion and you’re good to go.
Dissecting the Meta Tactical Apex Kit
The Meta Tactical Apex kit is filled with modern features. Across the top is one long Picatinny optics rail with tons of space for goodies. Red dots are the usual, but 12 o’clock lights will fit without issue.
The gun is outfitted with a non-reciprocating, ambidextrous charging handle. The handguard features M-LOK slots along the sides and at the bottom of the handguard. There is an optional foregrip that also acts as a spare magazine holder that attaches directly to the M-LOK rails.
The magazine release on a GLOCK isn’t ambidextrous, but it’s reversible. The magazine release on the Apex is set up to work with either a right- or left-mounted magazine release. The stock has six different positions, and when it’s completely collapsed, it’s really too short for most users, and it covers the slide lock.
At the Range
Bullpup triggers typically are famous for being not great. In fact, some reach all the way to the awful end of the spectrum. I own the Scorpion bullpup, and it has an awful trigger. I was pleasantly surprised by the Apex’s trigger. It’s a bit longer and a little mushy, but not terrible. It’s not crisp, exactly, but not bad enough to degrade accuracy, but not good enough to help either. That seems to be about the best you can get in a bullpup trigger.
In the accuracy department, the Apex proved to be pretty dang tight. Better than I expected, in fact. It produced nice ragged holes at 25 yards when rested. Out to fifty yards, I fired an offhand group of four rounds that all landed in about a three-and-some-change-inch group. I was surprised by the accuracy, and I might take it to the next PCC match I shoot.
One thing I noted was that after removing the GLOCK from the Apex, turning it back into a GLOCK and then turning it back into a rifle there was zero shift. I think that’s somewhat expected after removing a barrel and stock from a carbine platform. The zero shift put my rounds about an inch low.
Recoil is incredibly light. Lower than any standard blowback carbine and on par with something like the CMMG radial delayed system.
What About Reliability?
That’s the big question. Does the gun run and run right? Mine had almost a perfect score. No issues with various ammunition types. One day I loaded in a 33-round magazine, and the first round failed to fully eject. It was a round of Winchester White Box and the first round in the magazine. I ran the charging handle, cleared the jam, and Bingo was his name-o. That was the only issue in the hundreds of rounds I fired over the last couple of months.
Bullpup Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the Apex are mostly fine. The charging handle is great. The adjustable length of pull is grand, and the platform is thin and light. It weighs less than five pounds.
Where things get shifted is the GLOCK controls. I have two complaints and one gripe. My gripe is something that’s not really important, but I don’t like it and want to cry about it. The complaint is what I feel is a valid criticism.
The gripe is the magazine release. It works and isn’t complicated. Bullpup reloads are a bit slow as is. The problem is that there isn’t any tactile feedback. This is a gripe because I have the visual and tactile feeling of the mag dropping.
My first complaint is that reloading with retention is a little tricky. With a flush-fitting magazine, it’s downright hard. With a 33-rounder, you have to have pretty big hands to grab the magazine release and magazine at the same time.
Another complaint is the slide lock. It’s deep set and not fast to use. Reloads will be best utilized with the charging handles. Part of the stock’s bar obscures it on some settings as well. It really becomes a control for administrative reloads.
The Apex of GLOCK Chassis Kits
Gripes aside, this is the best GLOCK-style carbine kit I’ve ever used. It’s simple and modern and gives you a very short and lightweight platform. I can’t think of another PCC that’s this short, takes GLOCK mags, weighs less than five pounds, and isn’t a direct blowback system. I’m impressed with the Meta Tactical Apex kit.
Specifications: Meta Tactical Apex Chassis for GLOCK Pistols
Weight – 4.85 pounds
Length – 23.3 to 27.5 inches
Calibers – 9mm, .357 SIG, 40 S&W, 10mm, 45 ACP
MSRP – $499.99
Ratings (out of five stars):
Accuracy * * * *
It’s a PCC, so the range is really tapped out at about 50 yards for practical use. You can reach out to 100 yards, but you are dealing with a lot of drop. Within 50 yards, it’s perfectly suitable in the accuracy department and rivals dedicated PCCs like the SUB-2000.
Ergonomics * * * ½
It’s mostly good, especially in the length and weight department. The main problem is the magazine release and slide lock. Converting a pistol to a rifle isn’t easy, and Meta Tactical certainly did a good job within its constraints.
Reliability * * * *
One malfunction in what is easily over five hundred rounds now isn’t bad. Why it occurred is unknown, and I haven’t replicated it yet. I’d use this platform for home defense, and I might take it to compete.
Overall * * * *
The Apex kit isn’t cheap, but neither is any 16-inch barrel. Ultimately it is a well-made product from a small American company that’s outside the box. It’s not perfect, but I’m not sure how you turn a GLOCK into a rifle and achieve Perfection.
